A 17-year old girl from Becker is on the road to recovery following a single car roll-over accident on Co. Rd. 5 early Sunday evening.

 

Jasmine Tubbs went off the road in the 23600 block of Co. Rd. 5, near Big Lake Cmdr. Steve Doran of the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office reports.

 

Initial information received from Jasmine and first responders indicate that she may have went off the shoulder, over corrected and lost control of the vehicle causing it to rollover.  She was ejected from the vehicle and ultimately pinned underneath.

 

Jasmine narrowly missed a telephone pole and ended up near the bottom of the steep ditch embankment, mostly hidden from view of passing motorists. She had been heading southbound on her way to bring tomato soup home for her family’s supper.

 

“We were waiting for her,” said her mom, Celina McKenzie. “We were going to have grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup.”

 

As it happened, Kim and Michael Noding of Big Lake were passing the spot on their way to Zimmerman where Jasmine’s vehicle had left the road. 

 

Kim noticed the tire tracks left by the vehicle  leading down into the ditch as Jasmine had tried to jam on the breaks.  Then Kim thought she caught a glimpse of metal out of the corner of her eye.

 

The couple initially drove by but decided to turn back and investigate. 

 

“It’s probably nothing,” said Michael.

 

“We got there and I got out of the car and looked,” said Kim. “I saw the car down there with the headlights on and the windshield wipers running.”

 

Michael immediately called 911 and was talking to the operator as he scrambled down the steep bank to the car. 

 

“I looked around but I didn’t see anybody at first,” he said. “Then I stepped back and got down on my hands and knees to look under the car.  And there she was, pinned under the vehicle, face down and unable to move. It was at that point I realized the engine was still running and I had to shut it off.” 

 

The vehicle was still in drive, although it wasn’t going anywhere. The drivers window was shattered. Noding reached in and shut off the key but didn’t touch anything else.

 

Jasmine was conscious when the Nodings found her and told Michael her name. 

 

“I told the 911 dispatcher to get the helicopter, the paramedics and the fire department, whatever they had to get that car off her,“ he said. “I have had some paramedic training myself. Their response was terrific.”

 

“She kept apologizing to me and asked me to call her mother,” he said. “So I did, then I put the phone on speaker and she was able to talk to her.”

 

First responders estimated Jasmine had been there, pinned under the vehicle, for 20 to 30 minutes before the Nodings came along.

 

The sheriff’s department, Big Lake Fire Dept. and the Big Lake Police responded to the scene to free Jasmine. 

 

“The call came in at 6:11 p.m.” Cmdr. Doran said. “When the paramedics got there, she was conscious and talking.”

 

“It was good to see them,” said Michael. “The deputy got there in about four minutes after I made the call. I was proud of our EMS system and how well they performed. It was wonderful to see. They were excellent.”

 

“Michael called me right after he called the paramedics and I was here within 10 minutes,” Celina said. “I am so thankful for them and what they did.”

 

Jasmine was airlifted to HCMC with  a fractured pelvis, five broken ribs, several cracked vertebrae, a bruised lung, scrapes and burns. Initial indications are she has a mild concussion and doctors are hopeful she will recover fully with no brain damage.

 

“One of the worst things for her right now is she got poison ivy on her face and body,” said Celina. “But she was up and walking today (Thursday), with her brace on. It’s going to take quite a while for her to recover but we are so thankful she is ok.”

 

Jasmine is a PSEO student at Becker High School. Since she has already earned enough credits to graduate, she is  attending St. Cloud State University.